Automatic operating means for ticket vending and registering machines.



A. J. MEIER & W. L. SWIFT. AUTOMATIC OPERATING MEANS FOR TICKET VENDINGAND REGISTERING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. I913.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. J. MEIER & W. L. SWIFT. AUTOMATIC OPERATING MEANS FOR TICKET VENDINGAND REGISTERING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED'NIAR. 10, 1913.

1,215,178. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

, I I 4SIIEETS-SHEET 2. Q m m [71 (II fi w i n D G C- r 1 80 ffi- IV/WW;a Z t z I 9% E K glhefkrd. /7//e M0 M40 A; J. MEIER &- W. L. SWIFT.AUTOMATIC OPERATING MEANS FOR TICK'ET VENDING AND REGISTERING MACHINES.I APPLICATION HLED MAR-.10, I913- ;1,215,1?, Iatented Feb. 6,1917.-

4 SHEETs.. 3.

'A. J. MEIER & W. L. SWIFT.

AUTOMATIC OPERATING MEANS FOR TICKET VENDING AN D REGISTERINGIVIACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0, I913.

1,215.17. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 1 9 6 4 1 ERT J. MEIER, 01E GLENDALE, AND WILLIAMI1. SWIFT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOBS TO THE TEMCO MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A. CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC OPERATING MEANS FOR TICKET VENDING AND REGISTERING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1913. Serial Ito. 753,273.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that W6,-ALBERT J. MEIER and WILLIAM L. SWIFT, citizens ofthe United States, said ALBERT J. MEIER reslding at Glendale, in thecounty of St. Louis, State of Missouri, SWIFT residing at the city ofSt. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in AutomaticOperating Means for Ticket Vending andRegistefing Machines, of which the followmg 1s a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ticket vending and registeringmachines and more particularly to the machine of this character that isdisclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,039,167, granted toAlbert J. Meier and William L. Sullivan, September 14 1912, for whichPatent No. 1,039,212, for an improvement thereon was granted to WilliamL. Sullivan, September 24, 1912, the object being'to provide. automaticoperating means therefor.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, inwhich like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figurejl is a side elevation of a ticket vending and registering machineequipped with the automatic operating means which embodies the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of same;

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the automaticoperating means with the housing cover removed and some parts shown insection; and

Fig. 4'is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 4-4,

Fig. 1.

an the following description, some parts of the machine that areillustrated in the drawings are referred to by reference numerals toagree with the designations of the corresponding parts that are shown Iand described in the above-mentioned patents.

The top plate 1 of the machine extends beyond the side plate 4,andbeneath this extension is located a. plate 2, one side of which issupported by a laterally-projecting lip 3 or a plurality of such lipsborne by the side plate 4 and is secured to said lip or lips by a screw5 or a plurality of such screws or other suitable means, and the otherside of and said WILLIAM L.

tion of the interior which is supported by a suspension rod 6 or aplurality of such rods, each rod being secured to a hanger 7 by a bolt 9or other suitable means, which hanger is borne by the top plate 1. Nuts10 on each suspension rod 6 hold the plate 2 firmly therebetween.

Supported upon the plate 2 and secured thereto by bolts 11 or othersuitable means is a supporter frame 13, which may be a casting asillustrated in the drawings, part of which forms the casing or frame ofan electrlc motor. Another part of the support or frame 13 forms ahousing 15, through a porof which the shaft 16 of the motor 14 extendsfrom the bearing 17, the end of said shaft being journaled in athrust-box 18 having a thrust-screw 19, which thrust-box is secured inan opening 20 in the housing 15 by screws 21 or other suitable means. Aworm 22, which is mounted on the shaft 16 intermediate the bearing 17and the thrust-box 18 and is secured to sald shaft by a set-screw 23 orthe like, meshes with and drives a worm-gear 24 counter-clockwise, Fig.3, which worm-gear is revolubly mounted on an antifriction collar orbushing 25, which is revolubly mounted on a counter-shaft 26. Saidworm-gear 24 may be spaced from the bearing 17 by a washer 27 or aplurality of such washers mounted on the shaft 16. The counter-shaft 26is journaled in an opening 28 in an exten sion 29 of the housing 15 and,also, in an opening 30 in a-boss 31 borne by the cover 32 of the housing15, which cover is secured in place by screws 33 or other suitablemeans. Oil-cups 16 on the housing 15 a'fi'ords means for lubricating theshaft 16 and the worm 22. The wormear 24 has a circular recess 34 in oneof its aces to receive a disk 35, which is mounted on the counter-shaft26 and secured thereto by a pin 36 or other suitable means, there beingsuflicient space between the periphery of the disk 35 and the peripheralwall of the recess 34 .to allow said worm-gear normally to rotate idlyupon the counter-shaft 26. A clutch-plate 37 is revolubly mounted on thecounter-shaft 26 and is preferably located adjacent to the disk 35within the recess 34 in the worm-gear24. Each end ofthe clutch-plate 37is provided withan elongated notch 38 to receive the reduced end- 39 ofa roller 40, which is located in a notch 41 in the periphery of the disk35, there being as many notches 41 as rollers 40. Each notch 41 isformed relatively deep atone end thereof and is provided with a camsurface 42, which slopes toward'the peripheral wall of the recess 34 inthe worm-gear 24 so as to form a tapered space 43 between same and theperipheral wail of said "recess. By this arrangement, when the rollers40 stand at the deep ends of the notches 41 as depicted in Fig. 3, the

' disk 35 and the counter-shaft 26 will remain worm-gear 24 rotates,-

stationary while the but, when the rollers are moved into the taperedspaces 43 in the manner hereinafter described, so as to become wedgedbetween the cam surfaces 42 of the notches 41 and the peripheral wall ofthe recess 34, said rollers will thereby frictionally connect the disk35 with the worm-gear 24, with the result of causing said disk and thecountershaft 26to rotate therewith.

While, for the purpose of illustration, the disk 35 is shown with a pairof notches 41 formed in its periphery, which notches are preferablylocated diametrically opposite each other, yet, it should be understoodthat said disk may have only one notch 41, in which event only oneroller 40 and a clutchplate 37 having only one notch 38 would be used,or, if desired, the disk 35 may have three or more notches, under whichcircumstances, three or more rollers 40 and a clutch-plate having threeor more notches 38 would be utilized.

A pin 44, which is secured to the clutchplate 37, extends through anarcuated slot in the disk 35 and projects from said slot into a circularrecess 46 within the housing 15. A bar or pin 47 is reciprocativelymounted in an opening 48- in the housing 15, so that its inner endprojects into the path of rotation of the pin 44 within the recess 46andnormally occupies a position in front of and in engagement with oneside of said pin 44, thereby holding the latter .in the rear end of theslot 45 in the disk 35 as depicted in Fig. 3, so as to hold theclutch-plate 37 normally'in position to hold the rollers 40 in the deepends of the notches 41. A spring 49 attached to an arm 50 borne by.theclutch-plate 37 and, also, to a pin or stud 51 borne by the disk 35tends to rotate the c'lutch-plate'37 counter-clockwise, Fig.-3,' and,when the bar 47 is moved from in front of the pin 44 as hereinafterdescribed, the spring 49 rotates the clutch; plate. 37 counter-clockwiseon the countershaft 26 and thereby causes said clutchplate to move thepin 44 toward the front end of the slot 45 and, also, to move therollers 40 into the tapered spaces 43 until said rollers become wedgedbetween the cam I 6 surfaces 42 and theperipheral wall of the with theworm-gear 24. In this way, the

disk 35 is automatically connected with the worm-gear 24, whereby thecounter-shaft 26 will continue to rotate with the latter as long as thebar 47 is held out of the path of rotation of the pin 44. In order tostop the rotation of the counter-shaft 26, the bar 47 is moved in themanner hereinafter described, so as to project into the path of rotationof the pin 44, so that, when said pin 44 strikes the bar 47, the formerwill ,be

.Inoved toward the rear end of the slot 45 and will rotate theclutch-plate 37 clockwise,-Fig. 3, whereby said clutch-plate will movethe rollers 40 toward the deep ends of the notches 41 so as to releasesaid rollers from their wedged engagement with the cam surfaces 42 andthe peripheral wall of the recess 34 in the worm-gear 24, with theresult of. automatically disconnecting the disk 35 from the worm-gear 24so as to allow the latter to rotate idly while the disk 35 and thecounter-shaft 26 remain stationary.

In order to operate the bar 47 in the man- .ner hereinabove described,the outer end of same bears a laterally-projecting pin 52, whichprojects into an elongated notch 53 in the end of one'arm of abell-crank 54, the latter being pivotally attached at 55 to a bracket 56borne by the extension 29 of the housing 15. The other arm of thebell-crank 54 is pivotally connected at 57 to the lower end of a link58, the upper end of said link being pivotally connected at 59 to oneend of a, lever 60, which is pivoted at 61 to a lug 62 borne by the sideplate 4. The other end of the lever 60 extends between the forks 63 ofthe bifurcated end of a button 64 and contains a slot 65 to receive apin 66, which connects said forks,-there being an opening in the topplate 1 through which the upper end of said button extends and pro ectsabove said top plate. A spring 67, which is attached to the lever 60and, also, to a stud or pin 68 borne by the side plate 4, tends to rockthe lever 60 counter-clockwise, Fig. 3', so as normally to hold the bar47 in the path of rotation of the pin 44 and to cause the upper end ofthe button 64 to oxtend abovethe top plate 1 and, furthermore, toreturn. same to such positions, 'ztid-button being provided with 'anannular rib-69 or other suitable means adapted to engage the lowersideofsaid top plate so as to limit the upward movement of said button.

By this arrangement, when the button 641s the bell-crank 54 to rockcounter-clockwise, 1

Fig. 4, so that said bell-crank will withdraw the bar 47 from in frontof. the pin 44, so as to allow the disk and the coun- 7 scribed.

The counter-shaft 26 projects from the end of the extension 29 of thehousing and supports an arm 70, which is secured thereto, by a pin 71 orother suitable means.

A link 72 is pivotally attached to this arm V by means of a stud 73having an antifrictlon collar 74 revolubly mounted thereon. The lowerend of the link 72 is piv'otally attached to a plate 75 by means of astud-bolt 76, which extends through a slot 77 in the division plate 8 ofthe machine, said plate 75 having an end 78 thereof bent so as to extendthrough another slot 77 in said division plate, which bent end 78 beatscars 79 to retainsame within said slot. This plate 75 is located belowthe operating bar 93, and the slots 77 are preferably arrangedsubstantially vertically so as to allow the plate 75 to reciprocatevertically, the operating bar being, also, mounted for verticalreciprocatory movement and being guided by the studs 107, which extendfrom the divi- .ing links 81 attached sion plate 8 into slots 108,respectively, in said bar, as fully described in the abovementionedpatents. The operating bar 93 is connected to the plate 75 by means of aspring or a plurality of such springs. F or the purpose of illustration,a pair of springs 80 is depicted in the drawing's,-e-ach havto the endsthereof, there being an opening 82 in each of said links. The plate 75bears a pair of laterally-projecting arms 83' to which the links 81borne by the lower ends of the springs 80 are attached, respectively,and the operating bar 93 bears 'a pair of laterally-projecting arms 84to which the links 81 borne by the upper endsof the springs, 80 areattached,'respectively, each arm 83 being provided with a notch 85 inits lower edge and each arm 84 being, likewise, provided with a notch 85in its upper edge so that, when the links 81 arehooked over the ends ofsaid arms by allowing said ends to extend through the openings 82 insaid links, the,

pull of said springs holds said links in said notches. The pull of thesprings 80 holds the plate 75 normally in itshighest position so thatthe link 72 holds the arm 70 on the counter-shaft 26 nearly in anupright position so as to hold the end of the slot 45 in engagement withthe pin 44, in order to hold the latter in engagement with the bar 47.By this arrangement, when the bar 47 is withdrawn from the button 64,

turns same to its initial disk 35 with the rear in front of theclutch-plate 37 to connect the disk 35 with the worm-gear 24 ashereinabove' described, theycounter-shaft 26 then rotates with saidworm-gear and thereby causes the link .72

first to lower and then to raise the plate 75 during each completerevolution of said counter-shaft. Each time the plate75 is moveddownwardly, same stretches the springs 80, which, in turn, pulltheoperatin bar 93 downwardly, but, when the plate 75 is moved upwardly,the springs 80 relax and allow the operating bar 93 to return to itsinitial position.

As fully described in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,039,167, theoperating bar 93 isoperatively connected with the chain 87 by means ofwhich the ticket-seyering mechanism, the ticket-feeding mechamsm, the

ticket-registering mechanism, and the parts connected therewith (notshown in the drawings) are operated, said chain passing over and inengagement with the sprocket- Wheel 94 borne by the shaft 95 and beingattached to the spring 100 in the usual manner, which spring holds same'in and reposition. The rotation of the shaft 95 is controlled, asdescribed in that patent, so that same will normally limit the movementof the chain 87 to such extent that the ticket-feeding pin 44 so as toallow the mechanism will cause one ticket from the roll 12 to be issuedfrom the machine. The buttons 121 control the usual mechanism (notshown) by means of which the shaft 95 is permitted to rotatesufliciently to allow greater movement of the chain 87 so as. to issuetwo, three, four, from the machine by merely depressing the properbutton 121.

It should be understood that, instead of using an electric motor ashereinabove described, any other kind of a motor may be used, or theshaft 26 may receive its power from any suitable source. Furthermore,various minor changes in the construction and arrangement of departingfrom the nature present invention.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The motor 14 is set into operation in the usual manner so as to rotatethe worm 22,

and spirit of the which in turn, drives the worm-gear 24 in the.

the pin 44, whereupon the spring 49 rocks.

the clutch-plate 37 counter-clockwise, Fig. 3, whereby said clutch-platecauses the rollers 40 to become wedged between the cam surfaces 42 andthe peripheral wall of the five, or more tickets parts may be madewithout 7 causes the bell-crank 54 :4 recess 34 the worm-gear 24, withthe result of causing the disk 35 and the countershaft 26 to rotate withsaid worm-gear.

72 to move the plate 75 downwardly, wheres fibythe latter stretches thesprings 80jand I to registerithe issuance of the ticket in the from thethereby causes the scend and actuate fets from the machine, the

. ter upon v 56 to continue to "rotate until the last ticket of thedesired number appears above the top operating bar'93 to de; the chain87, which, in turn, actuates the mechanism to issue a ticket from themachine and, also, the mechanism usual manner.- During the last half ofthe revolution of the counter-shaft 26, the arm 70 causes the link 72 toraise the plate 75, thereby relaxing. the springs 80 and allowing theoperating bar 93 and parts connected therewith to return to theirinitial'posiq tions. As soon as'the ticket appears above the top plateof the machine or at any other time before the counter-shaft 26 makes acomplete revolution, the pressure is released button 64 in order toallowthe spring 67 to return same, .the lever .60, link 68, bell-crank54, and bar 47 to their normal positions, so that, when the pin 44engages the bar 47, the clutch-plate will move the rollers 40 out oftheir wedged engagement with the cam surfaces 42 and the peripheral wallof the recess 34 in the wormgear 24, with the result of stopping therotation of the counter-sha t 26.

In case two or more tickets are to be issued from the machine, theproper button 121 is-depressed, after which the button 64 is depressedso as to alldw the counter-shaft 26 to rotate with the worm-gear 24 andto cause the link 72 to move the plate 7 downwardly, thereby stretchingthe sprlngs 80 which cause the operating bar 93 to descen until thechain 87 has rotated the ticketfeeding drum in the usual mannersufliciently to issue the desired number of tickbutton 64 being releasedbefore the counter-shaft 26 makes a complete revolution, so as to stopthe latthe completion of one revolution. It will be evident that, if itis desired to issue two or more tickets, successively, it is onlynecessary to depress the button 64 and to keepsame depressed so as tohold the bar 47yout of the path of rotation of the order to allow thecounter-shaft plate of the machine or until any other time intermediatethe starting and completion of the last revolution-of said counter-shaftnecessary to issue the last ticket of the desired number, whereupon thepressure is removed from the button 64in order to allow the spring 67 torestore the bar 47 to;its initial position in the path of rotation ofthe pin 44 as hereinabove described, so as to stop the rotation of thecounter-shaft 26 the actuator.

'essary to issue the last ticket 0f the desired I During the first halfof the revolution of the. counter-shaft 26,-the arm causes the link;

, Weclaimi combination and registering -machine" and anactuatortherefor, a driven member, a shaft, clutch v mechanism for; operativelyconnecting said shaft with sald" member, a ,reciprocatory' i shaft, andmeans connecting sald reclprocatory member with the actuator.

member operatively connected with said 2. In combination with a ticketvending 4 and registerlng machine and an actuator therefor, a drivenmember, a shaft, clutch therefor, a driven member, a shaft, clutchmechanism for operatively connecting said shaft with 'said member, anarm borne by said shaft, a reciprocatory member operatively connectedwith said arm, and means connecting said reciprocatory member with 4. Incombination and registering machine and an actuator therefor, a drivenmember, ashaft, clutch mechanism for operatively connecting said shaftwith said member, an arm borne b' said shaft, a reciprocatory member, aconnecting said reciprocatory member with said arm, and means connectingsaid recip-- rocatory member with the actuator.

5. In combination with a ticket vending and registering machine andanactuator therefor,- a driven member, a shaft, clutch mechanism .foroperativelyconnecting said vsaid shaft with'said member, a depressiblebutton, and means operated by said button for controlling said clutchmechanism. 7

7. In combination with a ticket vend 1 'ing; and registering machine andactuating means therefor, a shaft operatively connected with theactuating means, a driven member revolubly mounted on said'shaft,automatic clutch mechanism for connecting said shaft with said member,means normally holding said clutch mechanism in inoperative posltion, adepressible" button, and 136 watt unearthin v witha ticket vendmg 5means operatively connecting said button with said holding means.

8. In combination with a ticket vending and registering machine andactuating means therefor, a. shaft operatively connected with theactuating means, a driven member revolubly mounted on said shaft,automatic clutch mechanism for connecting said shaft. with said member,means normally holding said clutch mechanism in inoperative position, a'depressible button, means operatively connecting said button with saidholding. means, and means for restoring said holding means and saidbutton to normal position upon the release of said button.

9. In combination with a ticket vending and registering machine andactuating means therefor, a motor, means operatively connecting saidmotor with the actuating means, clutch mechanism controlling saidconnecting means, a 'depressible button, and

means operatively connecting said button with said clutch mechanism.

ing and registering machine, motor driven rotatlng means, a normallystationary rotatable member, means connected to the member for actuatingsaid machine to issue a ticket and to operate the register upon thefirst half of the revolution of the mem-- her and for allowing saidmachine actuat ing means to return to normal position during the lasthalf ofthe revolution of the member and means to connect the rotatingmeans and the member to effect movement of the latter from the rotatingmeans.

11. In combination with a ticket vending and registering machine, andactuating means therefor, reciprocatory means in connection with theactuating means which retionary means throughout any'selectedpredetermined period.

12. In combination with a ticket vending and registering machine and anactuator therefor, driving means, normally stationary rotatable means,meansconnected to said rotatable means for operating the actuator andreturning same to normal position upon each revolution of the rotatablemeans, and means to connect the driving means with the rotatable meansto operate the latter from the driving means.

13. In a ticket vending and registering a machine operated by a motor, amanually 10. In combination with a ticket vend controlled ticket feedingand registering mechanism, whereby the operator may set the machine toissue one or more tickets, and a second manually operated means tocontrol the revolutions of the shaft of the motor, and an operativeconnection between said shaft and the ticket feeding and registeringmechanism.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence oftwowitnesses.

ALBERT J. MEIER. WILLIAM L. SWIFT. Witnesses:

GEORGE G. ANDERSON, WALTER C. GUELS.

